How to get a TIN ID

I’ve been trying to make this entry since this afternoon but my drafts were gone and it was not published. 🙁

Anyway, this entry will be about getting a Taxpayer Identification Number ID. I’ve been searching for a similar post online but I couldn’t find one. Google gave me different websites to visit but neither of those pages answered my questions. Even the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) website doesn’t have any answers to my questions. They only have some answers about getting a TIN and I don’t need it anymore since I already have one.

Having a TIN ID and a SSS ID are very important. These IDs are usually used to present in the bank or other personal transactions. You need these IDs to present so that you can open a bank account, receive money, encash your cheque, etc.

I have already applied for my unified SSS ID before and I already have one. I also have a PhilHealth ID but I don’t have a TIN ID. Unfortunately, the new bank that I’m going to open a new account with do not accept PhilHealth IDs as a requirement. So, the HR in my part time job told me to get a TIN ID so that she can give me an endorsement letter to the bank.

Not knowing the basic things such as how to get one or if I still have to pay a certain amount to get one led me to make a research online. As I’ve said, it sucks that the main government office’s website doesn’t have a straightforward answer to this. The site also was not as user friendly as it is supposed to be but that’s just one of the things they need to improve on.

Google redirected me to outdated entries that do not necessarily answer my questions. So, I decided to go to the Mandaluyong branch of BIR instead. I also brought some money in case I have to pay something for the ID.

I don’t often wake up early and I’ve been meaning to do so since last week. It’s a good thing that I was able to start the week right, by doing it now. My mother accompanied me to BIR this morning. We went around 9 AM to avoid the long queue of people for different purposes.

At first, there was a signage in the front desk that the TIN ID is unavailable. It was quite misleading so they should take the signage down if they knew better. So, I inquired at the front desk about it and the lady at the front desk told me that it’s already available and I should proceed to counter 6.

Counter 6 is actually a lane for Senior Citizens, PWDs, pregnant women, etc. So, when the staff at Counter 6 told me that I should go to another counter, I asked them why the lady at the front desk told me to go there. They eventually accommodated me and asked me to fill up the application for TIN ID form. However, after filling the form, another staff called my name and told me to go to BIR Pasig branch instead.

Nobody explained to me why I still need to go to another branch when they will only print the ID on a yellow paper (which honestly looks similar to the NBI Clearance paper). I mean, it’s just a laminated ID. It’s not like they will use the same material that was used for the SSS ID or the PhilHealth ID.

When I was ranting about this sentiment to my mom, she reasoned out that it was probably free that’s why the quality was not the same with the SSS ID or the PhilHealth ID. Still, it was quite a let down knowing that the BIR collects so much taxes from taxpayers. We also found out that the PhilHealth ID was free of charge when we were at Counter 6.

So, we didn’t have a choice but to go to Pasig. We hailed a regular cab and got there around 10. The BIR office doesn’t have a proper signage outside the building as well, so I almost got lost in getting there. I’m really thankful that my mom showed me the entrance to the BIR office and we were able to get there on time.

It was almost lunch time when we arrived so the number of people inside the BIR office is slowly increasing. It’s a good thing that I was able to get a number for counter 3 right away. The guard gave me a different form because he said that the form in Mandaluyong and in Pasig are different.

How come they have different forms? The mere fact that I need to go to another branch just to get an ID sucks. It just shows that they don’t have a unified system or something thatconsolidates with other branches. It’s quite a hassle and waste of time, fare and effort to deal with these lapses.

In addition, the staffs in both branches are not really friendly and accommodating. They seem quite bossy and may lack some people skills. One of the staff in the counter 2 of BIR Pasig actually made fun of one of the taxpayers because the latter doesn’t know which form should he fill in. Instead of guiding the taxpayer properly and respectfully, he treated the taxpayer like he is someone lower than him. It was distasteful and really ill-mannered of the staff. This staff is a middle aged man who treats his colleagues like they are in a party chatting over alcoholic drinks. Beware of this kind of government employees.

Going back to my experience in the BIR office…

As if I have a choice, I filled in the form again and waited for my number to be called. There was a queue already and although there are more than 12 or 14 counters, the people still need to wait for their turn and for their numbers to be called.

The thing is, you need to go there early if you don’t want to waste so much time waiting in the queue. Also, you need to properly check your personal information because once the yellow paper is printed with errors, the staff might ask you to pay P100. It’s a good thing that the staff didn’t ask me to pay for my misspelled name. I only figured out that the encoder wrote FRANCESCA instead of FRANCHESCA when I received my TIN ID. It’s a good thing that I saw it while I was there and was able to have it changed at the same time.

How could they even mistype it? They have already asked for another ID but they still wrote a different name on a white sheet of paper!!

Anyway…

The answers to my questions are:

Q: Do I need to pay for the TIN ID?

A: No. You can get your TIN ID for free.

Q: Can I claim the ID on the same day or do I have to go back to their office to get it on another day?

A: I’m not sure about the exact answer to this. It may be a case to case basis, but in my experience, I got it on the same day. I only waited for a few minutes since they encode the information right away.

Q: How do I apply for a TIN ID?

A: Here’s the step by step procedure on how to get your TIN ID.

1. Go to the BIR branch where you registered your TIN number. This is my theory, I never got the chance to know if this is true, but I figured that the reason I was sent to Pasig was because I registered my TIN ID in Pasig 8 years ago.

2. Fill up the TIN ID application form and get a number from the guard The number indicates your turn to go to the assigned counter, in my case it was counter 3.

3. Wait for your number to be called in the counter you are assigned to.

4. When your number is called at the counter, pass the form to the staff and present a different ID (this is for the encoder to copy the proper spelling of your name, I guess.) Lo and behold, you already presented a different ID but they still copied your name and address wrong. So… carefully read your information before you tell them that everything is correct. Make sure that the spelling of your name, address and other information are correct. Of course, most especially your TIN number.

5. Wait for your name to be called and get another ID to present to get your TIN ID. I suggest you give another ID with the same address to be sure. I actually gave my SSS ID this afternoon but my address on that ID was different from my PhilHealth ID.

6. Once you are called by the encoder, he or she will return your other ID and ask you to check your personal info on a paper. He will ask you to encircle the mistyped information and change it. He will also tell you to sign at the bottom of your information and put the date on that day. So… carefully read your information before you tell them that everything is correct. Make sure that the spelling of your name, address and other information are correct. Of course, most especially your TIN number.

7. Usually, the encoder will call your name again. He will give you your TIN ID and it’s done. You’ll just have to put a 1×1 picture on the right side and sign on the left side.

My mistake was that I only encircled the block instead of the apartment unit number. I was so focused on the address, my TIN number and my birthdate that I missed the proper spelling of my name. It’s a good thing that the encoder was nice enough to do it again. He made a new one and corrected the spelling of my name. He didn’t charge me P100 anymore.

I just placed a picture on the card and had it laminated this afternoon so that I can open a bank account tomorrow. Even though it doesn’t have the same quality as the SSS ID and the PhilHealth ID, I’m still thankful that I’ve accomplished this task today. Tomorrow will be a new journey. I’ll try to post my experience again if I have enough time.